There have been a number of changes in this year's Davos Courses format. In the following Q & A, Davos Course Director Mike Grevitt shares insights about this year's event program.

 

The format of the Davos Courses 2016 has changed significantly compared to last year. What is new in 2016?

Our main objective is to offer a program, which is directly related to the daily practice of the attending surgeons, making sure that they will get the most out of the inspirational and international learning environment. We have put the focus on personalized, interactive, case-based learning taught and coached by world leading experts in their fields.

 

There will be daily keynote lectures on different topics ranging from sacral classification, research and non-technical skills as well as combined AOSpine and Technical Commission (TK) sessions. We will also have panel discussions in so-called "Three wise men-sessions: The good, the bad and the ugly—a case that changed my daily practice", where surgeons share tips, tricks, and insights from challenging and unique cases. Additionally, we have included daily practical sessions into the program covering the topics adult deformity, cervical degenerative, lumbar degenerative, trauma, tumors and infections.

 

​Participants can expect an extraordinary learning experience with ambitious and cutting-edge educational programs combined with numerous opportunities to interact and network with global key opinion leaders.

Another highlight at this year's Davos Courses is the Advanced Level Simulated Bioskills Course. The state-of-the-art simulation models with realistic haptic and optical characteristics including an intraoperative bleeding system will set new standards in practical learning and let the participants experience the newest technical innovations in practice through intensive, 1:1 hands-on sessions.

 

 

What can participants expect from this year's Davos Courses?

Participants can expect an extraordinary learning experience with ambitious and cutting-edge educational programs combined with numerous opportunities to interact and network with global key opinion leaders.

 

In addition to this year's extensive learning program, participants will get the unique opportunity experience the "AO spirit", which is a spirit of collegiality and camaraderie, of commitment to excellence and of trust felt by participants and faculty alike. The Davos Courses are a great event to build friendships, and to share knowledge.

 

 

What is special about the teaching format at the Davos Courses?

This year the participants will be able to have a 360 degrees learning experience. For the bioskills courses, for example, we have included blended learning with pre-course online learning resources, virtual tutorials and access to practical videos and didactic sessions with ample time for discussion.

 

There will be lots of case discussions mixed with practical sessions and interactive learning.

 

 

​The Davos Courses have always offered the most up-to-date surgical, research, and product advancements combined with cutting-edge educational programs. As the Education Commission Chairperson of AOSpine I am constantly looking for new technologies, innovations and teaching methods to improve the learning experience of the spine surgeon community around the world.

 

You have introduced a simulated Bioskills Course this year.  Where do you see the future of simulated Bioskills Courses within AOSpine?

The Davos Courses have always offered the most up-to-date surgical, research, and product advancements combined with cutting-edge educational programs. As the Education Commission Chairperson of AOSpine I am constantly looking for new technologies, innovations and teaching methods to improve the learning experience of the spine surgeon community around the world.

 

The technical advances in simulator technology today provide highly realistic training environments. The bioskills simulator is a great tool to train surgeons at all levels of practice and to teach them techniques before they take patients under the knife. Training of surgeons is a time and cost intensive endeavor, therefore we need to search for robust supplementary training methods that are more cost-effective, allow more practice and reduce the reliance on cadavers.

 

Today surgical simulators are used as supplementary training experiences rather than primary training tools. However as a global organization we also need to consider the needs for training and education for surgeons in countries where the resources and training opportunities are extremely limited or don't exist. Simulators don't require a sterile environment or x-rays, hence they are ideal for cost-effective high fidelity standard procedure training.

 

 

As the chairperson of the AOSpine Education Commission, in your opinion, how will surgical simulation change spine surgeon education?

Surgical simulation training and education is an exciting technological development with a lot of potential. The surgical simulation technology has taken a huge step forward in the last couple of years and today the haptic of the simulators that we are using is very sophisticated and close to lifelike. Another important factor is that simulator training can be practiced everywhere around the world, which is not possible with specimen or live tissue due to legal restrictions in some countries.  Simulation also offers opportunities to "coach" more experienced surgeons to improve intra-operative efficiency and performance. This opens up a whole new avenue of education for AOSpine members.

 

 

​This year we will have 54 faculty from over 20 countries. They are the leaders in their respective field and are part of the ‘circle of excellence’ of spinal surgeons around the world. They are extremely committed to surgical education and are fully prepared to deliver an extraordinary educational experience to the participants.

 

What can you say about the faculty of this year's Davos Courses?

This year we will have 54 faculty from over 20 countries. They are the leaders in their respective field and are part of the ‘circle of excellence’ of spinal surgeons around the world. They are extremely committed to surgical education and are fully prepared to deliver an extraordinary educational experience to the participants.

 

 

​Surgeons who are part of the AOSpine Member Community have one goal in common: they want to be the best in their field of spine surgery, they want to move things forward and they are keen to share their knowledge with the worldwide spine surgeon community. This community is true "circle of excellence".

 

What, in your own view, is special about being an AOSpine member, why would you recommend it to surgeons who aren't members yet?

Surgeons who are part of the AOSpine Member Community have one goal in common: they want to be the best in their field of spine surgery, they want to move things forward and they are keen to share their knowledge with the worldwide spine surgeon community. This community is true "circle of excellence". By being part of this leading group of spine surgeons around the world, members have access to the key opinion leaders in their respective field. It's also a circle of trust and friendship. AOSpine is the only truly global organization in the spinal field that is able to offer that.

 

 

​Access the final Davos Program here ​ 

 

Follow us live on Twitter @AOSpine and join the conversation! Use the hashtag #aodavos2016 to share your experience of the Davos Courses and to stay up to date.